A British woman tourist who was deported from Sri Lanka in 2014 for having a tattoo of the Buddha on her arm today won Rs 800,000 as compensation from the island nation's Supreme Court over her treatment.

Naomi Coleman took legal action after being detained for four days in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo in April 2014.

Justice Anil Gooneratne with Justices Eva Wanasundera and Nalin Perera agreed with the judgement to award Coleman Rs 500,000 as compensation payable by the State and Rs 50,000 each by the two police officers who were involved in her arrest of the British national.